If you're still worried about it, you could also check with Washington ESD directly once you've been working there a bit. They can tell you if your employer is in their system.

I went through this same situation last year when I started at a nonprofit! The easiest way to find out is to look at your paystub for any unemployment insurance deductions, or just ask whoever handles payroll. In my experience, most nonprofits with more than a few employees do participate in Washington's unemployment system. Even if they're exempt from federal unemployment taxes, they usually still pay into the state system. Don't stress too much about it - chances are you're covered just like any regular job.

One more tip - when you file, make sure to mention specifically that you believe you were misclassified as a contractor. Don't just say you were a contractor and hope they figure it out. Be clear about your position.

I've been following this conversation and want to add that Washington also has specific rules for creative professionals like graphic designers. Since your work involves intellectual property and creative output, there might be additional factors ESD considers beyond the standard ABC test. I'd recommend mentioning that you're a graphic designer when you file - sometimes the nature of the work itself can influence how they evaluate the employment relationship.

One last tip - when you're doing your job search activities, make sure to keep good records. Washington ESD might ask for your job search log during an audit, and you want to show you're actively looking for work within your authorized employment scope.

I went through this exact situation two years ago as a DACA recipient in Washington. You're absolutely eligible - I had my benefits approved without any issues. The key is having your valid work authorization document and Social Security number ready when you apply. Washington ESD processed my claim just like any other worker since I had been paying into the system. Don't let fear stop you from applying for benefits you've earned! Just make sure to keep your DACA status current throughout your benefit period.

Hope you get this resolved soon! The unemployment system in this state is frustrating but don't give up. There are people who can help, you just have to find the right way to reach them.

I'm in a very similar situation - been trying to reach Washington ESD for over 3 weeks about a pending claim and getting nowhere with the phone system. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the in-person offices aren't really going to help much either since they can't handle claim-specific issues. I'm seriously considering trying that Claimyr service that multiple people have mentioned since traditional methods clearly aren't working. It's frustrating that we might need to pay a third-party service just to reach our own state agency, but at this point I'm running out of options and need to get my benefits resolved. Has anyone else here actually tried contacting their state representative's office for help with Washington ESD issues?

UPDATE: It worked!! After completing the ID.me verification I found in my spam folder, it took about 8 business days, but all my weekly claims suddenly switched from "disqualified" to "paid"! The money was in my account the next day. For anyone else experiencing this weird "approved but disqualified" problem: 1. Check your spam/junk folders thoroughly for emails from ID.me or ESD 2. Log into ID.me directly to see if there are pending verification steps 3. Make sure you're correctly reporting your job search activities (exactly 3 per week) 4. Double-check all your weekly claim answers Special thanks to everyone who helped, especially the suggestion to check for identity verification issues. After 18 weeks of stress and no income, I finally have this resolved. Now to catch up on all these bills...

Congratulations on getting this resolved! Your experience highlights exactly why so many of us get stuck in this nightmare loop with ESD. That hidden identity verification requirement is such a common issue, but there's literally no way to know about it unless you happen to check spam folders or someone mentions it. Your step-by-step summary at the end is really valuable for others dealing with this same problem. I'm bookmarking this thread because I've seen at least 5 other posts this month with the exact same "approved but disqualified" situation. 18 weeks without income is absolutely brutal - I can't imagine the stress you've been under. Glad you can finally start catching up on everything. The system really shouldn't make people jump through invisible hoops like this just to get the benefits they're entitled to.